Unit heater



Nov. 2, 1943. R, w KRn-ZER 2,333,317

UNIT HEATER Filed Nov. 1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 54750 Z 3l l FYI? Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIT HEATER Richard W. Kritzer, Chicago, Ill. Application November 1, 1940, serial No. 363,849

s claims. (o1. r:i3- 33) to have air enter its interior via the inlet andv then flow upwards through the outlet and past the vanes; and (2) a heating device which is disposed in the casing interior and serves when in operation to heat the air as it circulates or'ilows upwards through the casing.

One object of the invention is to provide a unit heater of this type which is an improvement upon, and is more efficient than, previously designed unit lheaters of like character in that it embodies a ian wheel-electric motor type air circulator which:

is mounted over the air outlet in the top of the casing and is adapted when in use or operation to direct above and transversely across the vanes a beam or column of air under pressure in such manner that a jet action occurs whereby the circulation of air through the casing and past the heating device is materially stimulated or increased.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unit heater of the last mentioned character in which the air circulator is mounted so that it is capable of being tilted into different angular positions about a horizontal axis and is so connected to the vanes that it is conjointly adjustable with the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unit heater of the type and character under consideration in which the operating connection whereby the air circulator is connected for conjoint angular adjustment with the deflector type vanes includes a turnbuckle type tting whereby the angular position of the circulator may be varied or changed relatively to the vanes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unit heater of the type and character heretofore mentioned in which the vanes and air circulator are mounted on a ring type frame which is rotatable in a horizontal plane in order that the vanes and circulator may be moved bodily into different horizontal positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit heater which is generally of new and improved construction and is characterized by low cost of manufacture, high eiilciency, and practicability.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a unit heater which has certain advantages over that which is disclosed in, and forms the subject matter of, an application for United States letters Patent led by me on Ocober 10, 1940, Serial No. 360,530.

Other objects vof the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present unit heater will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a vertical section of a unit heater embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a Vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and illustrating in detail the manner in which the air circulator is mounted with respect to the angularly adjustable deiiector type vanes; and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 and showing in detail the manner in which the ring type frame for supporting the vanes and air circulator is rotatable in a horizontal plane, i. e., labout a vertical axis in order to bring the vanes and air circulator into different angular positions in connection with distribution of the heated air to diierent points in the room to be heated.

The unit heater which is shown in the drawings constitutes the Preferred embodiment of the invention. It is designed or adapted for use in a room or other space to be heated and as its main or principal parts comprises a box-likeA or cabinet type casing 4, a heating device 5 and an air circulator 6.

The casing 4 is in the form of a sheet metal shell and comprises a front 'I, a back 8, a pair of sides 9, and a top I0. The sides are disposed in parallel relation and extend between, and are joined to, the side margins of the front and back. They serve to holdthe front and back in spaced relation and together with said frontand back define a chamber I I. The -bottom margins of the front, back and sides of the casing 4, dene an air inlet I2 for the chamber II. Legs I3 are provided at the lower corners of the casing and these legs serve to hold the casing in an elevated position With respect to the floor on which the heater is positioned or placed with the result that the air inlet is in communication with the bottom portion of the room to be heated. The top II) is marginally connected to the upper margins of the front, back and sides of the casing and has in the central portion thereof a circular opening or aperture forming an air outlet I4 for the chamber II. A ring type frame I5 carrying a series of horizontally extending laterally spaced deflector type vanes I6 is located directly above the air outlet 2I4. illhisrfrafme is channel shaped in cross section and comprises a vertically 4extending web I'I and outwardly extending horizontal top and bottom legs I8 and I9.

and is carried for rotation about a vertical axisby way of a supporting ring 20 and a setorplurality 4of rollers 2I. The ring 20 is the same in diam'- eter as the air outlet I4 in thecasing top :I8 and has at the bottom thereof an integral outwardly extending annular flange 22 which is welded or yotherwise fixedly secured to the portion :of the casing 4top that defines said outlet I4. 'Ilhe roll- -ers 2I are disposed within the inner periphery -of 'the supporting .ring A2l) and .carried by horizonltally extendingstub shafts l.on the ring. They t between the top and bottom legs f8 Yand |19 iof the ring shaped frame I5 and carrythe frameso that it is free to be rotatedn a 4horizontal plane. The Vdeflector type 'vanes yII are 'disposed within the ring type frame I-5, Vas shown in the drawings. They are pivotally connected to ythe Aframe by waylof pintles "23 and Ian -annulus 24. Thevannulus v'fits-"against the inner periphery of, and is Welded or otherwise xedly secured to, vthevertlcal web 4I-I of the ring shaped frame I5. .The vpint-les 23 are located at, and :project outwardly from, the-ends of the vanes and are locatedsubstantially midway :between the side edges ofthe vanes. They t in holes in the annulus andpermit the vanes to be tilted vor angularly adjusted about parallel horizontal yaxes. When th'e :heater is Ain operation, vras hereinafter described, air enters the chamber Il inthe casing 4 via 4thefair inlet I2, then flows upwards through the :chamber and past the heating device 25 and 'finally flows-upwards through the outlet I4 and pastthe vanes I 6. The air emanating from, or flowing upwards through, thefair outlet I4 is deflected Aby -the Yanes in a certainrlateral direction, depending upon the position of the vanes. The vanes are connectedtoge'ther for conjoint adjustment or `tiltinglby way of ahorizontally extendinguconnector bar 25 which 4is disposed `beneath fand extends diametrically across 'the ring shaped frame `I5 and is connected to the lowersidefmarl sition When the bar- -25 is shifted forwards Vthe vanes are -tilted or rotated in a counterclockwi'se ldirection,va.s viewed in l@Figure-1. When the lbar is reversely shifted, that is, shifted rearwards the vanes are swung'in aclockwise direction,-fas viewed in Figure 1, and tend partiallyftofclose the `air outlet I4. Byadjusting the vanes "the `heated air `emanating from the casing ymay -be Vdeflected upwards or forwards. Shift oftheb'ar 25 ifor lvane adjustingipurposes 4is effectedxor-zao- It serves to support the air circulator 6, as hereinafter described,

complished by way of an upstanding lever 28. The latter is located over the front portion of the ring shaped frame I5 and is connected by a pivot bracket 29 to the top leg I8 of the frame. The bracket permits the lever to be swung forwards and rearwards in a vertical plane. The lower extremity of the lever is connected to the upper marginal portion of the front or foremost vane by way of a link 30. When the lever 28 is swung forwards, as shown by dotted lines in Figure l, the 30 operates to tilt upwards .the front Vane and the connector bar 25 in turn swings or tilts the other vanes correspondingly. Forward tilting of the vanes is effected by swinging the lever 28 rearwards. By swinging the lever the vanes `may 'be adjusted into any desired angular position. Should it be desired to change the :horizontal position vof the vanes it is only necessary rbodily to rotate the ring shaped frame I5.

The 4heating device 5 is located in the central :portion :of the chamber III vand `consists Vof-ametal :shell -3I and I`a burner `82. The :shell defines a combustion vchamber 3-3 fand 4'embodies -a :due 84. The latter extends through 4the `baclzfll lof the 'heater-casing-d'to a pointv outside -the room :to `be l'heated and serves to fdischarge or carry away -the products 'of 'combustion resulting :from .operation of the burner 32. The latter isxshown :diagrammatically in .Figure 1 Eand' may Ybe Ian oil or vgas burner :or any `other :type f'of burner member. When the burner J32 'is :in loperation :it :serves tb `heat the shell 3| andthe latter in turn heats the air as it circulates upwards :through the chamber II yin the casingl'll. g

The air circulator .8 iis disposed .over :the :rear portioncf the ring yshaped fframe 45,-.as shown in :Figures al and 43 of the drawings, and fcomprises fa fan rwheel :35,:anfelectric -motorBIiga'gua-rd 3?' :and :a mountf.' .The fan wheel,1mot'or 'and guard are in the dorm 'of fanlassembly'andas hereinzarter described, 'arefso `carried-orsupportedibylthe 'mount ythat `they may fbe ytilted into different angular positions about 2a .rhorizontal axis. `The 'fan wheel :35 lis disposed within the iguard :31 .and yconsistsfof van` elongated lhug ,-38 and a vplurality .0I I.blades 40.' :Thes'hubzhas .a pyramida'l liront yemi and :embodiesa socket ztnotshown) lin'its rearfend. The blades are formed integrally with, and .prnlject radially from, the ifi-ont k:end `of the shub. Theygarezangularly `disposed or :arranged and 'emfbody front pressure Tf aces iand '.rear suction faces. IPreferably the ifan Wheel :is z'like that which f-.is

shownzintand forms the subject matterzof, United States PatentNo l1,933,9438, dated November il, 1933. The electric motor 36 isilncatedlbehind the v4lhu'b T39 of fthe Lian wheel :and is lually aligned therewith. 'It serves Las :the fdrivin'g mediumzfnr the 'fan -wh=1elfanclV embodies :an 'armature shalt '4I Lwhichfextends iinto the .socket Ein the rear aand :of the lfan'wheelhub 9 and rislkeyed orntherw'ise Jxedlyfsecured .to rthe hub. When theunotor-sis 1in 'operationit :serves to :drive 'ithe fan Vwheel .5 and during :drive '.or lnperation .of fthe fan Wheel l:the suction faces of rthe fbladesdireot 'inwardsand :forwards the iair :surrounding `:the imotor i3 :and 'deliver such air` into K.thegpath of the pressure faces ofthe blades. ,Th'elatter in fturn J.projector u contact or engagement `with blades 10 yofthe fan wheel. The central portion of the lcasingof the electric motor 36 is secured to the rear portion of the guard. The mount 38`of the air circulator 6 comprises a bracket 42 and a U- shaped member 43. The bracket 42 is xed to the top leg I8 of the frame I5 and projects inwards from the rear portion of the frame interior. It is in the nature of a platform and constitutes a supporting medium for the U- shaped member 43. The latter is located directly above the bracket and serves as a connecting medium between the bracket and the assembly of fan wheel, motor and guard. A vertically eX- tending bolt 44 extends through the central portion of the member 43 and also through the bracket and serves to hold the U-shaped member in a position wherein it extends at right angles to the deflector type vanes I6. The upper ends of the U-shaped member 43 are connected by pivotal connections 45 to diametrically opposite side portions of the guard 3l. Such connections are horizontally aligned and permit the assembly of fan wheel, motor and guard to be tilted or angularly adjusted about a horizontal axis. When the assembly is vertically positioned, as shown in Figure 1 and the vanes I6 are tilted or inclined forwards and upwards the beam or column of air under pressure which emanates from the fan wheel during operation of the electric motor moves or flows transversely across the vanes I6 and produces pronounced suction which results in an eiective and eiicient up-flow of air through the casing 4, and in addition draws the heated air emanating from the outlet I4 into the beam or column. The beam or column of air under pressure together with the heated air travels across the room to be heated and in this manner effects heating of the air in the room. Because the circulator is located inwards of the ring shaped frame l5 it not only directs the heated air in beam or column form across the room to be heated but also sucks or directs the heated air in back of the fan wheel upwards from the chamber II and in this manner also serves to stimulate up-flow or circulation of air through the casing and past the heating device 5. By reason of the fact that the mount for the circulator is carried by the ring shaped frame I5 the circulator is shiftable into diierent horizontal positions with the vanes. For the purpose of connecting the assembly of fan wheel, motor and guard for conjoint tilting or angular adjustment with the vanes I6 a connection in the form of a link 46 is provided. This link overlies and eX- tends diametrically across the frame I5 and includes in the central portion thereof a turnbuckle 4l'. The front end of the link 46 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the lever 28. The rear end of the link is pivotally connected to the lower portion of the guard 3l of the air circulator 6. When the lever 26 is swung forwards in order to open or tilt upwards the vanes I6 the link 46 operates correspondingly and conjointly to swing or tilt upwards the assembly of fan wheel, motor and guard. When the lever 28 is swung rearwards in connection with closing or clockwise angular adjustment of the vanes the assembly is caused conformably to tilt downwards. Because of the link 46 between the lever 28 and the lower portion of the guard, the assembly is always in a predetermined angular position with respect to the vanes. The turnbuckle 4'! permits of elongation or contraction of the link 46 and constitutes means for adjusting the angular position of the assembly relatively to the vanes. Should it be desired to increase the angle at which theass'embl'y extends with respect to the vanes the turnbuckle is manipulated or adjusted so as to decrease the overall length of the link 46. In the event that it is desired to decrease the angle at which the assembly extends relatively to the vanes the turnbuckle 41 vis manipulated or adjusted so as to increase the length of the link 46. The link 46 constitutes simple means for connecting the assembly and the vanes for conjoint tilting or angular adjustment and the turnbuckle 41 constitutes means for varying the angular position of the assembly relatively to the vanes. When it is desired to direct the heated air emanating from the air outlet I4 upwards the lever 26 is swung forwards. When it is desired to direct the beam or column of heated air to one side of the heater casing 4 it is only necessary bodily to rotate the ring shaped frame I5. Such movement or operation, as hereinbefore pointed out, serves bodily to adjust the vanes and air circulator horizontally.

The herein described unit heater is extremely efcient in operation and this is primarily attributable to the fact that with the deleotor type vanes I6 arranged at an angle with respect to the air circulator the circulator creates, due to the resulting jet action, such suction within the casing that the air in the casing circulates rapidly upwards therethrough. By having the circulator and the vanes conjointly angularly adjustable but a single control movement is necessary to change the direction of the beam or column of heated air. When the heating device 5'- of the heater is inoperative due to the room in. which the heater is disposed being at a predetermined temperature the air circulator 6 may, if desired, be utilized independently for air circulating purposes. The heater may be produced at a comparatively low cost because of the simplicity of its design.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modied within the scope of the appended claims without departing' Yfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a box-like casing adapted to have air circulate upwardly through it and provided with an upwardly facing air outlet at the top thereof, of a series of parallel laterally spaced deilector type vanes across the outlet for directing the air emerging from said outlet, pivotally supported to swing into different angular positions and connected together for conjoint angular adjustment, an air circulator positioned exteriorly of the casing and directly above the outlet and including an assembly. of fan wheel and electric motor and a mount whereby the assembly may be tilted vertically into different angular positions, and a connection between the assembly and the vanes for connecting them together for conjoint angular adjustment.

2. The combination with a box-like casing adapted to have air circulate upwardly through. it and provided with an upwardly facing air out-- let at the top thereof, of a series of parallel laterally spaced deflector type vanes across the out-- let for directing the air emerging from said outlet, pivotally supported to swing into different. angular positions and connected together for conjoint angular adjustment, an air circulator positioned exterorly of the casing and directly above'- the outlet and including an assembly of tan wheel and electric motor and 'a mount whereby the assembly may be tilted vertically into different angular positions, and a, connection bei tween the assembly and the vanes operative to connect them together for conjoint angular .ad- Justment and including means for adjusting angular position of the assembly relatively to the vanes.

3. The combination with fa box-like basing adapted to have air circulate upwardly thefrethrough and provided with 'an upwardly facing air outlet at the top thereof, of a series of parallel laterally spaced deflector type varies for defleoting or directing the air emanating from the outlet, extending horizontally across the `outlet and pvotally supported at the ends thereof 'to swing into different angular positions, means for conjointly shifting the vanes into different angular positions including a control 'element manipulable from the exterior of the casing, an air circulator for directing the air in beam form away from the casing after it passes through the outlet positioned exteriorly of the casing and adjacent the outlet and including an assembly of fan wheel and electric motor and a `mount whereby the assembly may be tilted into different angular positions about a horizontal axis, and an operating connection between the assembly and the control element for connecting the assembly for conjoint angular adjustment with the vanes.

4. 'I'he combination with a box-like casing adapted to have air circulate upwardly therethrough and provided with an upwardly facing air outlet at the top thereof, of a series of parallel laterally spaced deflector type vanes for d'eflecting or 4directing the air emanating from the outlet, extending horizontally across the outlet and pivotally supported at the ends thereof to swing into different angular positions, means for conjointlyv shifting the vanes into different an'gua lar posi-tions including a control element manipulable from the` exterior of the casing, an air circulator for directing the air in beam form away from `the casing after it passes through the outlet, positioned exteriorly of the casing and adjacent the outlet and including an assembly' of fan wheel and electric motor and a mount whereby the assembly may be tilted into different angular positions about a horizontal axis, and an operating connect-ion including a turnbuckle and extending between the assembly and control element for connectingv the assembly and vanes for conjointI adjustment.

5. The combination with a box-like casing adapted to have air circulate upwardly through it and provided with an upwardly facing air outlet at` the top thereof, of a frame adjacent the response to smfroftnenfrsme. f

ll O

6. The 'combination with 'a 'l'iox-lllfl'e casing adapted to have air circulate upwardly through it and provided with an upwardly 'facing air outlet Aat the top 'thereon of a trame adjacent the outlet, lmounted to `rotate about 'a vertical axis and having a :series of :laterally `spaced deflectoi' members thereacross, and an unenclo'sed air vcirl cula'tor for directing the vair in beam forinxaway' from the casing aff-ter it passes through the out:- let and past the members, disposed Vabove the outlet 'and wholly eliteriorly of the 'casing and including an assembly 'of fan wheel and "electric motor and 'a 'mount between the assembly and the frame whereby the `alsseinbly may be tilted into diierent angular positions for beam adjusting purposes.

'-7. The ycombination with a box-like casing adapted to have air circulate upwardly through it and provided with an upwardly facing air outlet at the t'op thereof, of -a frame adjacent the outlet mounted to rotate about a Vertical axis and carrying therea-cross a series of laterally spaced horizontally extending y"angularly adjustable deflector type vanes. and an unenclosed air circulator for directing the air in beam lform away from the casing after it passes through the outlet and past the vanes mounted wholly exteriorly of the casing and on the frame and shiftable bodily into different horizontal positions lin response to shift of the frame.

8'. The combination with a box-like casing adapted to have air circulate upwardly through it and provided with an upwardly facing air outlet at the top thereof, of a ring shaped frame around the outlet mounted to rotate about a. vertical central axis and carrying thereacross a series of laterally spacedrhgrzontally extending angularly adjustable deectonr type vanes, means associated with the frame for connecting the vanes together for conjoint adjustment, and an air circulator for directing the air in beam form away from the casing afterit emerges from the outlet, disposed over the frame and including an assembly of fan wheel and motor and a mount between the assembly and the frame whereby the assembly is permitted to tilt into different angular positions about a horizontal axis, and means connecting the assembly to the vanes for conjoint adjustment.

RC-IARD ZER. 

